Center brace blocks light can I drill holes ?

[Pike]

So my 65g marineland tank has a centre brace on top which is blocking some light from my 24" Maxspect razor. It blocks light from the center puck. Im am going to build a cover which will block even more light because both frames will widen the centre brace. My question is can I drill say half inch holes along the centre brace with adequate spacing of course ? Will this weaken the brace or cause any problems? I would obviously protect the water from the drilling

[Magickiwi]

Rule of thumb #45: If it came with the tank there must be a reason for it.

I'm sure many people have done things like this and haven't had a problem but my own opinion is if they built it like that, leave it alone.

[425nm]

If you can find some glass you could always just pull the center brace and replace it with a euro brace.

[Seriak]

Originally Posted by Magickiwi

Rule of thumb #45: If it came with the tank there must be a reason for it.

I'm sure many people have done things like this and haven't had a problem but my own opinion is if they built it like that, leave it alone.

+1

[Pike]

Originally Posted by Magickiwi

Rule of thumb #45: If it came with the tank there must be a reason for it.

I'm sure many people have done things like this and haven't had a problem but my own opinion is if they built it like that, leave it alone.

Yes i see your point of view and thats what worries me but what if we look at it as a "Mod" Just like many mods are done on various equipment in our hobby.

And I can't replace it with euro brace because its been running for threes months and has livestock in it. That would be much of a project.

Thank you for your input and suggestions , .....

[Ryancw]

How is drilling holes in a tank full of livestock any safer than trying to switch it to eurobracing? Both seem pretty impracticable with a full tank. I vote upgrade time and transfer everything over

[Pike]

I like your approach but I just set up the tank 3 months ago. And I could remove some water and tape plastic garbage bag underneath the brace and along the rim, that way I can catch the particles from drilling...not a problem

[corpusse]

Many years ago when I switched from MH to T5 I was very annoyed by the shadow my center brace left. I drained the tank about halfway, cut the brace or at least 80% of it and replaced it with clear acrylic. I drilled holes in the ends of the brace and the acrylic and attached with nylon screws and nuts. Zero bowing and now it's probably been 7 years. This is in a 5 foot 112 gallon miracles tank. There is still a little bit of shadowing, probably more magnified now that I use LED lights but its much better then a black center brace.

[Pike]

^ Thank you . That is also a possibility but a bit more tricky. Also very assuring that this could be done with out ill effect

[Ryancw]

Highly impractical but this could work....


Build a brace out of 2x4s to slide snug over the top rim of the tank. Have a eurobrace made at a glass shop. Drain the tank down a 1/4 and install 2x4 brace. Cut off center brace and silicon in the eurobrace. Let it dry and then remove 2x4s???